Method and apparatus for laser cutting separate items carried on a continuously moving web

Abstract

Apparatus and method for separating book covers or other items joined by a continuously moving web. A double-walled tubular attachment strip is adhesively attached to the spine portion of successive spaced covers in a continuous process. Covers are fed onto a conveyor at a constant speed with a spacing between covers and adhesive is applied to the spine areas. Simultaneously a continuous double-walled attachment strip is formed and pressed onto the cover spines to form a continuous string of covers. The attachment strip is cut by laser cutting beam between each cover while the covers are moving by moving a focussed cutting beam in a plane normal to the plane of the strip transversely to the direction of movement of the strip.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. Apparatus for severing a continuously moving web comprising a carrier for items connected thereto at spaced intervals, said web being severed at predetermined locations between said items comprising; conveyor apparatus for moving said web and said items in a predetermined path,   a laser beam source for producing a cutting beam,   a laser beam delivery system for moving said beam across the surface of the web in a path transverse to the direction of travel thereof and focusing said cutting beam in the plane of said web, and   sensor apparatus for sensing the position of each successive item on the web,   said beam delivery system including control apparatus responsive to said sensor to activate and move said cutting beam to sever the web at each successive predetermined location.   
     
     
       2. A method for severing a continuously moving web joined to successive items spaced thereon at predetermined locations adjacent successive items, comprising the steps of; moving the web in a predetermined path,   focusing a laser cutting beam at a focal point in the general plane of the moving web,   sensing the position of each said successive item,   moving said cutting beam in a transverse cutting path relative to the direction of movement of the web at each successive predetermined location to sever the web, and   controlling the movement of said cutting beam responsive to the sensed position of the items, to sever the web at a predetermined location between successive items.   
     
     
       3. Apparatus for severing a continuously moving web joined to successive book covers spaced thereon at predetermined locations adjacent successive book covers comprising; conveyor apparatus for moving said web in a predetermined path,   a laser beam source for producing a cutting beam,   a laser beam delivery system for moving said beam across the surface of the web in a path transverse to the direction of travel thereof and focusing said cutting beam in the plane of said web as it moves thereacross to sever the web, and   sensor apparatus for sensing the position of each successive book cover on the web,   said beam delivery system including control apparatus responsive to said sensor to activate and move said cutting beam to sever the web at each successive predetermined location.   
     
     
       4. A method for severing a continuously moving web comprising a double-walled tubular paper strip joined to successive book covers spaced thereon, at a point on said strip between each cover, including the steps of; moving said web in a predetermined path,   focusing a laser cutting beam at a focal point in the general plane of the moving web,   sensing the position of each said successive cover,   moving said cutting beam in a transverse cutting path relative to the direction of movement of the web at each successive predetermined location, and   controlling the movement of said cutting beam responsive to the sensed position of the covers to sever the strip at a predetermined location between successive covers.   
     
     
       5. Apparatus for severing a continuously moving web moving in a predetermined path and comprising a carrier for items connected thereto at spaced intervals, said web being severed at predetermined locations between said items, comprising; means for moving said web in the predetermined path,   beam reflector apparatus for receiving said beam and forming at least one reflected beam, said beam reflector being movable to direct said reflected beam in a cutting path transverse to the direction of travel of said web and across the surface thereof,   lens apparatus for focusing said reflector beam at a focal point in the plane of said web throughout the travel of the beam across the surface thereof,   sensing means for successively sensing the position of each said items on the moving web, and   drive means responsive to said sensing means to move said reflector through an oscillation cycle to sever said web in the predetermined location between the items.   
     
     
       6. Apparatus according to claim 5 including; mounting means for mounting said reflector for movement through an oscillation cycle about an axis disposed at an angle to the direction of travel of said web,   said beam being moved by said reflector in an arcuate path in a plane perpendicular to the surface of said web during an oscillation cycle of said reflector.   
     
     
       7. Apparatus according to claim 6 wherein; said lens apparatus is positioned between said beam source and said reflector,   said lens apparatus being movable in synchronism with the movement of the deflector to focus said beam at a focal point in the plane of said web as the beam moves thereacross.   
     
     
       8. The apparatus according to claim 5 including; mounting means for mounting said reflector for oscillation about an axis disposed at an angle to the direction of travel of said web,   said beam being moved in an arcuate path in a plane perpendicular to the surface of said web.   
     
     
       9. The apparatus according to claim 8 wherein; said lens apparatus is positioned between said beam source and said reflector,   said lens apparatus being movable in synchronism with the movement of the reflector to focus said beam at a focal point in the plane of said web as the beam moves thereacross.   
     
     
       10. A method for severing a continuously moving web joined to successive items spaced thereon at predetermined locations adjacent successive items, comprising the steps of; moving said web in a predetermined path,   focusing a laser cutting beam at a focal point in the general plane of the moving web,   moving said cutting beam in a transverse cutting path relative to the direction of movement of the web at each successive predetermined location to sever the web,   maintaining said focal point in the plane of the web throughout its cutting path,   sensing the position of each said successive item, and   controlling the movement of said cutting beam responsive to the sensed position of the items to sever the web at the predetermined location between successive items.   
     
     
       11. The method of claim 10 wherein; said cutting beam is caused to oscillate in an arcuate path in a plane perpendicular to the surface of said web for movement across the surface of said web.   
     
     
       12. A method for severing a continuously moving web comprising a book binding attachment strip joined to successive book covers spaced thereon at predetermined locations adjacent successive book covers, said book covers being adhesively bonded to said attachment strip, comprising the steps of; moving the strip in a predetermined path,   focusing a laser cutting beam at a focal point in the general plane of the moving strip,   moving said cutting beam in a transverse cutting path relative to the direction of movement of the strip at each successive predetermined location to sever the strip, and   maintaining said focal point in the plane of the strip throughout its cutting path.   
     
     
       13. A method for severing a continuously moving web joined to successive items spaced thereon at predetermined locations adjacent successive items, comprising the steps of; moving the web in a predetermined path,   focusing a laser cutting beam at a focal point in the general plane of the moving web,   sensing the position of each said successive item,   moving said cutting beam in a transverse cutting path relative to the direction of movement of the web at each successive predetermined location to sever the web,   maintaining said focal point in the plane of the web throughout its cutting path, and   controlling the movement of said cutting beam responsive to the sensed position of the items to sever the web at a predetermined location between successive items.   
     
     
       14. Apparatus for severing a continuously moving web comprising a book binding attachment strip for book covers adhesively bonded thereto at spaced intervals, said strip being severed at predetermined locations between said book covers comprising; conveyor apparatus for moving said strip and said book covers in a predetermined path,   a laser beam source for producing a cutting beam, and   a laser beam delivery system for moving said beam across the surface of the strip in a path transverse to the direction of travel thereof and focusing said cutting beam in the plane of said strip as it moves thereacross to sever the strip,   said beam delivery system including control apparatus to activate and move said cutting beam to sever the strip at each successive predetermined location.   
     
     
       15. Apparatus for severing a continuously moving web comprising a carrier for items connected thereto at spaced intervals, said web being severed at predetermined locations between said items comprising; conveyor apparatus for moving said web and said items in a predetermined path,   sensor apparatus for sensing the position of each said items,   a laser beam source for producing a cutting beam, and   a laser beam delivery system for moving said beam across the surface of the web in a path transverse to the direction of travel thereof and focusing said cutting beam in the plane of said web as it moves thereacross to sever the web,   said beam delivery system including control apparatus responsive to said sensor apparatus to activate and move said cutting beam to sever the web at each successive predetermined location.